News — May 1, 2018 (Waterloo, Ontario, Canada) – A new breed of machine learning algorithms have begun knocking down cognitive milestones that, until recently, scientists believed were still decades away. Major advances are being made in computer vision, language translation, autonomous robotic action and other complex applications.

At the same time, these new algorithms are helping scientists accelerate discovery in physics.

During a live webcast event on Wednesday May 2 at 7PM ET, physicist Roger Melko will explore how computers have helped humanity solve increasingly complex puzzles, and ask which challenges, if any, only human intuition is equipped to tackle.

Melko’s talk, titled “,” is part of the Perimeter Institute Public Lecture Series. The talk will be webcast live on and via partner organizations.

Melko is an Associate Faculty member at Perimeter Institute and the University of Waterloo, whose research examines the interplay of large-scale computer simulations, quantum mechanics, and other complex problems in physics. The Canada Research Chair in Computational Quantum Many-Body Physics, he was awarded the Canadian Association of Physicists’ Herzberg medal in 2016 for his work on computer simulations of quantum entanglement.

Following the talk, Melko will answer questions from the online and in-house audience – including questions submitted prior to and during the talk via and (using the hashtag #piLIVE). Questions are welcomed from everyone – aspiring scientific explorers, school classes, physics buffs, and general math and science enthusiasts.

View past Perimeter Public Lectures and events, and read more about Perimeter’s research, training, and outreach activities at www.insidetheperimeter.ca.

LIVE WEBCAST DETAILS

  • What: Artificial intelligence and the complexity frontier
  • When: Wednesday, May 2, 7PM ET
  • Where: Live at Perimeter Institute, webcast online at
  • Pose questions for Melko by tweeting @Perimeter using the hashtag #piLIVE
  • More info:

Perimeter Institute is the world’s largest research hub devoted to theoretical physics. The independent Institute was founded in 1999 to foster breakthroughs in the fundamental understanding of our universe, from the smallest particles to the entire cosmos. Research at Perimeter is motivated by the understanding that fundamental science advances human knowledge and catalyzes innovation, and that today’s theoretical physics is tomorrow’s technology. Located in the Region of Waterloo, the not-for-profit Institute is a unique public-private endeavour, including the Governments of Ontario and Canada, that enables cutting-edge research, trains the next generation of scientific pioneers, and shares the power of physics through award-winning educational outreach and public engagement. 
 

For more information, contact:

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(519) 569-7600 x5071